As nurses, our coworkers and patients depend on us to regularly show up for work. While all of us are entitled to sick days every once in awhile, the general consensus is that when we are scheduled to work, we should be there. Other people depend on our presence.
However, lately I've found frustration at my own position because I co-supervise 3 units with a colleague who does not appear to be in good health. She constantly arrives late, leaves early or takes 1+ hour long breaks. Our floor nurses are frustrated with her because she's almost never around when they need her. Providers are frustrated because she doesn't have her discharge paperwork ready for them on time. She's often absent for family care conferences she should be attending. She's late to clinical meetings, doesn't regularly answer her emails and lets her voicemails exceed 10+ new messages at a time. She doesn't complete her weekly wound round notes.
This week, she's been absent every day except for 4 hours on Monday, and with 15+ discharges, over 10 admissions, state surveyors and COVID in the building, I've taken on the brunt of the increased workload. This is turning into a weekly occurrence. She's either not healthy enough to work a steady manager job that requires regular attendance or for some reason, less is simply expected out of her. My body is worn out from constantly covering from a "sick" colleague. Is it unreasonable to expect that my co-manager be in good health and be held to the same expectations as myself? I'm tired of always being under stress because of her work habits.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
On 4/22/2022 at 7:02 PM, SilverBells said:
With everything said, it may be best to stay quiet.
This could be a wise decision, SilverBells, like the Zen philosophy of the keeping still mountain, or the old adage of allowing the chips fall where they may.
If a situation is not terribly bad, it is sometimes best to condone. Numerous situations in my career went from bad to worse. We often think that if we get rid of that one bad apple, everything will be okay, only to have a rotten apple take its place.
Also, numerous times in my career, weathering a storm and waiting it out proved to my and others' advantage. I could tell you stories of outliving bad situations, poor coworkers and supervisors in order to continue in a position that was like an old shoe.
Just found out that I'll have to cover for my colleague once again for most, if not all, of next week for medical reasons again. It doesn't sound as if they're able to find a replacement. I'm not sure if I have the strength to cover for 56 patients again for multiple days in a row. If I don't already, I'm probably going to start having health problems myself if I keep having to do this. The stress is killing me.
Why can’t the staff nurses do some of those things? It seems like admissions, discharges, provider visits, wound rounds, reviewing orders, and addressing some complaints are all things that can be delegated, can they not?
When the nurses who are covering for her stop covering by starting calling to out and/or resign or flat out refuse by going to management...then the management will have to wake up or step up regardless of any "pet" relationships. As others have said, they have no incentive to change now as everyone is covering for her.
Sounds like her physical illness may also be mental health issues, either way whatever her problem(s) they are now bleeding over to others and it sounds like on a chronic level.
Time to make some decisions OP..only YOU can control how much longer this situation effects YOU.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
13 hours ago, SilverBells said:
I'd say both
If she is not your direct report, it's quite possible she has an intermittent FMLA case due to health, and you just are not aware of it. In which case, there really isn't anything you can do about it.
Does your facility have an attendance and/or punctuality policy?
If so, she should be expected to follow it, and should be going down the progressive disciplinary path for absenteeism.
If that's not happening for whatever reason, then you need to decide if it bothers you enough to find a different job.
Davey Do
10,666 Posts
This could be a wise decision, SilverBells, like the Zen philosophy of the keeping still mountain, or the old adage of allowing the chips fall where they may.
If a situation is not terribly bad, it is sometimes best to condone. Numerous situations in my career went from bad to worse. We often think that if we get rid of that one bad apple, everything will be okay, only to have a rotten apple take its place.
Also, numerous times in my career, weathering a storm and waiting it out proved to my and others' advantage. I could tell you stories of outliving bad situations, poor coworkers and supervisors in order to continue in a position that was like an old shoe.